In September and October 2006, nearly two dozen San Diego-area painters and some of their spouses (I'm in the latter category) spent three weeks in Spain. We visited Madrid, Toledo, Cuenca, Córdoba, Granada and Seville.

Seeing the country with such an artsy group meant we saw things differently than a lot of tourists would. While traveling in a group meant we were a bit tied down, Dani and I had plenty of time to explore on our own. And it meant that somebody else took care of the logistics and driving, an invaluable asset for our first trip overseas together.